"We were glad to confirm the suppositions we have
been nourishing for 25 years, about the place where the Capitol lies, one of the
most important temples of Roman Dacia," said Ioan Piso, an official of
Transylvania National History Museum in central Romania.

"This is the temple of Jupiter and the Triad
Capitoline, made of Jupiter, Junona and Minerva," Rompres quoted Piso as saying.

Such temples used to be erected in every Roman city,
after the model of Rome, Piso said, noting the significance of the latest
discovery to the history of Romania.

The Capitol of Sarmizegetusa is unique, because the
dedication of the edifice meant that the cult of Jupiter had been officially
brought to the Roman province of Dacia, Piso said.

"This happened around 150 AD and the temple's
dedication day, May 23 by the Julian calendar, became one of the biggest feasts
in Dacia," Piso added.

Archeologists have only revealed one single section
of the Capitol, but the rest of the structure is expected to be exposed in
coming years, Rompres said.

Sarmizegetusa was the most important Dacian military,
religious and political center. The Dacian capital reached its acme under
Decebalus, the Dacian king defeated by the Roman Empire after two wars (101-102
and 105-106), led by Emperor Trajan, culminating in the Battle of Sarmizegetusa

After the defeat of the Dacians, the conquerors
established a military garrison there. Later, the capital of Roman Dacia was
named after the Dacian capital -- Sarmizegetusa, established 40 km from the
ruined Dacian capital.